Arizona Trail – Saguaro National Park

Trip Leader: Leif Abrell, Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists (SDMB) Board Member

Time: Friday, March 29th @8:30 AM

Difficulty—Intermediate

Pace: Casual and enjoyable

Length—16 miles, 2.5 hours approximately

Description: This loop goes through the Rincon Valley in Saguaro National Park on Passage 8 of the Arizona Trail, now commonly used for ultra bikepacking and thru-hiking. This is a popular mountain bike area east of Tucson near the rapidly expanding town of Vail, AZ. Much of this

trail was built with volunteer help from SDMB, and is quite flowy. Highlights include historic ranch sites in Saguaro Natl Park, fantastic views of Rincon Peak, and a fun, splashy crossing of Rincon Creek (moisture conditions dependent).

Location: Meet at Vail Vortex Trailhead at the

intersection of E Garigans Gulch and S Camino Loma Alta. 32.082860, -

110.6873683. No bathroom facilities or water at the trailhead. On Trailforks this

parking area is labeled as “Parking for Pistol Hill Trails”.

https://aztrail.org/explore/passages/passage-8-rincon-valley/

Preparation: Be prepared with sunscreen, adequate water (2-3 liters), snacks, sunglasses, gloves, helmet, camera, and a MTB bike in good working order (tubeless tires highly recommended). No e-bikes allowed.

Bonus: A free cactus comb to every rider.

Register: https://sdmb.org/events   Use code to register: PFBAZT